Natural Environment Assistant Team Leader

About The Role

Plymouth City Council is seeking an experienced and motivated Natural Environment Assistant Team Leader to support the delivery of high-quality frontline environmental services across the city.

This is a key supervisory role within the Natural Environment Service, where you will assist in managing operational teams responsible for maintaining Plymouth’s green infrastructure, public spaces and natural assets. You will play an important role in leading staff, coordinating work programmes, and ensuring services are delivered safely, efficiently and to a high standard.

The role provides an excellent opportunity to step into a leadership position within a progressive, high-performing service.

You Will

What You Will Do

• Support the day-to-day management and supervision of operational teams delivering natural environment and grounds maintenance services
• Plan, organise and schedule work programmes, ensuring tasks are completed on time and to required standards
• Undertake risk assessments and ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and safe working procedures
• Monitor team performance through site visits and ensure quality assurance of completed work
• Respond to public enquiries and complaints in a professional and timely manner
• Support staff management, including resolving routine HR issues and assisting with training and development
• Ensure vehicles, plant and equipment are maintained and available to meet operational needs
• Maintain accurate records and documentation, including operational, HR and asset management systems

You Will Also

• Provide cover for the Natural Environment Team Leader when required
• Promote a positive team culture focused on safety, wellbeing and continuous improvement

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a proactive and organised individual with strong supervisory skills and experience in environmental or grounds maintenance services.

Essential Qualifications & Knowledge

• Good understanding of natural environment, landscape or grounds maintenance services
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation, including COSHH
• Full UK driving licence (including towing)
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English
• Competence in using equipment such as strimmers, hedge cutters and mowers
• Experience using ICT systems, including Microsoft Office and digital asset management systems

Skills And Experience

• Experience supervising or supporting operational teams
• Ability to plan workloads and manage competing priorities
• Experience monitoring work quality and ensuring compliance with standards
• Strong communication skills and experience working in a customer-facing role
• Ability to carry out risk assessments and promote safe working practices
• Experience in landscape, horticultural or habitat management

You Will Also Demonstrate

• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to motivate and support staff to deliver high-quality services
• Confidence in handling operational challenges and adapting plans when required

Why Plymouth?

This role will be based within Plymouth City Council’s new Natural Environment Service – consisting of several groundbreaking programmes and teams across the themes of; Communities; Trees; Marine; Nature Recovery; and Environmental Operations. The new Natural Environment Service enhances Plymouth’s demonstrable leadership as a Nature City with a track record in innovation across Climate, Nature, People, and Place programmes – working collaboratively across themes to achieve maximum impact for the city and the wider region. This is a hugely exciting time to join us in delivering our ambitions, most recently published in our Plan for Nature and People

Additional Information

• This is a frontline, mobile supervisory role working across Plymouth
• The role includes outdoor working and occasional physically demanding tasks
• You will be expected to cover operational responsibilities and respond flexibly to service needs

The Disclosure & Barring Service Check requirement for this post is: Standard Check

We are a flexible employer and provide a variety of working arrangements tailored to the needs of each role.

Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation.

As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years.

Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK

How To Apply

If you’re passionate about the natural environment and ready to take the next step into a leadership role, we would love to hear from you.

For more information or an informal discussion, please contact Nick Allison - ***email_hidden***

Closing Date: Monday 8 June 2026

Interviews: Week commencing 15 June 2026